Purchased by a family in 2001 from a dealer, was unsound and a slaughter candidate. The family allowed him to go to an organization in upstate NY, which did not work out and we helped with recovery for the family. Placed again for "retirement" by the family. Weeks later ERR received a tip from an adopter on horses at risk, and found Kentucky on the internet for immediate sale otherwise would go for auction/slaughter. Within 24 hours, and the support of friends and neighbors we had Kentucky safe in Pine Bush, NY.

KENTUCKY UPDATE: 8/29/05

Kentucky was transported to our veterinarian's facility, where his front feet were xrayed. We are awaiting the results. He has a good appetite and since coming out of quarantine has a girlfriend, a retired standardbred mare. He is a very sweet horse and a pleasure to be caring for. A new shelter was built for him, and we're still working on a new 2+ acre paddock (help from someone with a back hoe or excavator would be appreciated).

XRAYS SHOWED PREVIOUS FOUNDER (sinkage and rotation in rf)

KENTUCKY UPDATE: 8/19/05

Our veterinarian was out as scheduled and bloodwork/coggins is back normal. I believe we appreciated his vaccinations more than he did. We had his shoes pulled and hooves trimmed later that day. We are scheduling him for transport to our vet's facilities for xrays after his quarantine period.

KENTUCKY UPDATE: 8/22/05

Our veterinarian was out as scheduled and bloodwork/coggins is back normal. I believe we appreciated his vaccinations more than he did. We had his shoes pulled and hooves trimmed later that day. We are scheduling him for transport to our vet's facilities for xrays after his quarantine period. He is a very sweet horse and a pleasure to be caring for. A new shelter has been built for him, we rented an auger and we're still working on removing stumps from a new 2+ acre paddock (help from someone with a back hoe or excavator would be appreciated).

KENTUCKY UPDATE: 8/12/05

We have our veterinarian coming out today to do a physical exam, run some tests/fresh coggins and vaccinate Kentucky.

We will also be running to Home Depot for some building materials for a new run-in shed and fencing material.

Donations to offset these expenses will be greatly appreciate.

Anyone handy that can help put up his shed, or has an auger to help put up fencing, please call us at (845) 744-1728

Photo is of volunteers picking up Kentucky in PA

KENTUCKY UPDATE: 8/11/05

The Times Herald Record helped to spread the word on Kentucky's plight and there was a phenomenal outpouring of support. We jumped in our truck not knowing if we had all of the funding secured, but wanting to make sure we got there in time. Thanks to some great volunteers and some very generous THR readers, we raised the money, our bank accepted donations on our behalf and we were able to pay for him!

Thank you all who donated to save Kentucky's life, your generosity at the 9th hour was overwhelming!

Thank you to Christy at AC4H in PA for taking his picture, otherwise he never would have had a chance in the first place.

Thank you Dave and Nathan at the Times Herald Record.

Thank you Sherry for hauling the big guy home.

Thank you Linda in Albany for urging me to check out that website that listed horses going to auction and slaughter.

Thank you to Barb for holding down the fort here in Pine Bush until we got back last night.

Thank you Alicia for finding us when we were lost in PA, and getting us back on route.

At 9:30 p.m. Kentucky was safe in Pine Bush, NY.

Now we continue to search for Dakota, Kentucky's companion.

Dakota was last seen in Broadalbin, NY.

Picture taken 2001 in Montgomery, Orange County, NY

Kentucky and Dakota together in 2001, Montgomery, Orange County, NY

8/10/05:URGENT KENTUCKY NEEDS YOUR HELP

One of our adopters emailed us today, to give an update on Cimmaron and to tell us to check out a website for Another Chance For Horses... because horses were going to auction and slaughter. Of course I check out the website, and under their BROKER section... is a horse that we have helped in the past... a tri-color paint named Kentucky. He was rescued 5 years ago from a slaughter dealer by a woman in Orange County. He was then placed with a rescue/handicap program that had difficulties and a large seizure was involved. We recovered the horse and returned him to the prior owner. Kentucky was offered a retirement home in upstate NY and the owner decided to let Kentucky, along with his companion, a sorrel qh named Dakota, go to a new "forever home". They trusted this person and the verbal agreement was that if they did not want the horses at any time, the horses should be returned. We don't understand what part of forever or return this person missed when he took the horses... After seeing his picture on AC4H, ERR directors, along with the prior owner, confirmed the horse's identity. Multiple calls to AC4H were made until I got Christy on her cell phone. She cited a confidentiality agreement she had with the horse dealer and wouldn't tell us who currently owns Kentucky. We were told that the dealer who has him now, purchased him from Donald Nickerson's kill pens, and that Mr. Nickerson had purchased the horse at Chambers auction in Unadilla, NY. There is very little time, and we need some help. Christy notified us that the horse is going to auction either this Saturday, or the latest Monday, to New Holland. I asked if the horse can be held and she said no, he was going to auction. Kentucky does NOT deserve this and we are trying to purchase him so we can place him in our permanent care so we can ENSURE his lifetime of safety. AC4H says that the $900 price is not negotiable, although she will call the dealer, explain the situation and see what she can do to help. We are also in the process of helping the owner track down her quarter horse, Dakota, and the hauler who delivered the horses will be visiting the location shortly. Hopefully Dakota's recovery will be much simpler. ERR is 501(c)3 and any donations made will be tax deductible. Please help us help Kentucky he does not deserve this.